LIVINGSTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS

Voters often want to know, what do Democrats believe and why do we exist? Our core principles may not fit on a bumper sticker but they are the heart and soul of what we want to achieve and the policies we support. We think you will find that you agree with many – even all – of them.

Mission Statement

The Livingston Party Democratic Party exists to forward its core principles through activity in the civic and electoral areas, where possible electing Democrats to public office.

1. People who work deserve good, safe jobs with benefits and enough weekly hours to allow them to provide security and opportunity to themselves and their families. We favor a significantly higher minimum wage and workers’ right to form or join unions.
2. Government has an affirmative role to play in providing essential high-quality public amenities, including police, fire, education, roads, public transit, and where needed food, shelter, and counseling services. Having effective, well-funded preschool and K-12 education and affordable internet access are critical to restoring our young people’s economic mobility.
3. These services are worth paying income, sales, and property taxes to maintain and continuously improve. Whenever feasible, these taxes should be progressive, reflecting high income taxpayers’ greater ability to pay.
4. Government spending should focus on providing security and opportunity rather than on punishing victimless crime, as in the wasteful and ineffective “war on drugs.” There are more humane and cost-effective ways to address drug use and other petty offenses than to expand our jails and lock up so many of our people.
5. Government should be accessible and elections fair. We support making it easier, not harder to vote, and we oppose gerrymandering to create "safe" electoral districts.
6. Government should be transparent and accountable. Having a minimum of secrecy and engaging in spirited debate around critical issues are critical to building and maintaining the reputation of public service, which has suffered under the County’s in-grown, old-boys-club Republican rule.
7. We believe that public policy must respect everyone in the community, so we support the civil rights of women, minorities, and LGBT individuals.
8. Our air and water belong to all of us, and should not be put at risk for such private purposes as fracking, particularly in the absence of meaningful, fully enforced regulation.

These eight principles drive what we do – both the positions taken by our candidates on local, state, and national issues and the ways we are engaged in the community. Therefore, among the many things we do in the County:
• We picket for higher pay at Wal-Mart.
• We demand that Lansing politicians do their jobs and address the sorry state of our roads.
• We seek to improve our schools and other vital public services, where necessary supporting millages and other taxes to provide the revenue they depend on.
• We walk for warmth and support local food banks.
• We opposed expanding the County jail, and we oppose filling it with people charged with minor, often victimless crimes.
• Even when we do not hold office, we monitor township, city, and county government meetings, always seeking more openness and public engagement.
• We monitor polling places throughout the county to ensure that people entitled to vote are not prevented from doing so.
• We oppose discrimination in hiring and promotion.
• We support moratoriums on fracking.

If you agree with many of our principles, join us! We meet the 4th
Thursday of every month. Our meetings are open to all Democrats in the
county. Watch our website for topics and locations. "Like" Livingston
County Democrats on Facebook. Sign up for our weekly email blasts by
sending your email to livcodems@gmail.com.

NEXT MEETING

Chris Smith, Cand...

A candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 8th Congressional District will speak to Livingston County Democrats later this month.
Chris Smith, a professor at Michigan State University, will discuss his candidacy at the party’s meeting on May 24.
A long-time resident of the 8th district, Chris Smith has taught public policy and law at Michigan State University for 24 years. He has written dozens of books on these subjects, including Courts and the Poor, Constitutional Rights: Myths & Realities, and Courts and Public Policy.
His co-authored book, Living Democracy, is used to teach courses on American government at colleges throughout the country.
Chris has taken an unpaid leave of absence from MSU during 2018 in order to run for the Democratic nomination for Congress.
Chris grew up in a union household and was educated in Michigan public schools. He has been married for 33 years and has two grown children. Chris and his wife Charlotte recently became first-time grandparents.
Chris is one of two candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for 8th District Congress. He will face Elissa Slotkin, a former official in the Defense Department under President Obama, in the August 7 primary.
The party’s monthly meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. The meeting is open to all Democrats in the county. Attendees are encouraged to park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevators down to the auditorium.
Light refreshments will be served.
(Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. Labor donated.)

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RUTH BADER GINSBURG MOVIE IN HOWELL

Livingston Dems H...

The life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, only the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, will be the subject of a movie being released in select theaters nationally this month. Livingston County Democrats are sponsoring a week-long run of the film in Howell.

RBG, by Magnolia Pictures, tells the life story of the justice who has developed a large following of fans based on her life-long record of fighting against sex discrimination. Despite her popularity, few know of the hardships Ginsburg met and conquered throughout her legal career, including having difficulty finding a job despite graduating tied for first in her class at Columbia Law School.

The film will be shown at the Historic Howell Theater, 315 E. Grand River Ave., Howell, from May 25-May 31, with showtimes at 4:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The 7 p.m. showing on Friday, May 25, will be Dems’ Night, with many candidates for local and state office gathering in the lobby prior to the showing to greet theater goers. This is a great time to meet some Democratic candidates.

Tickets are $8 and may be purchased in advance from the party to help defray the cost of the sponsorship. The office will be open from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets may also be purchased at the theater before each showing.

CANDIDATE FOR COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 8

Hamburg Township ...

A woman who tackled the problem of the lack of late-night transportation for Livingston County is running for a seat on the Livingston County Commission.

Kristina Drake, of Hamburg Township, says she is running for a second time because she still believes that District 8 deserves a more active and progressive representation on the county board.

“The way the county board does business hasn’t changed. This county is still far behind surrounding areas in technology, addiction programs, corrections, and environmental protections.” Kristina said. “We only in the last couple years have had the technology to accept credit cards at the clerk’s office.”

Last summer, Kristina went on a mission to bring Lyft, a popular rideshare program, to Livingston County as an option for those needing a ride home late at night. “There was a lot of talk about the increased DUI arrests in this county without anyone trying to create a solution, so I decided to find one,” she said.

Other very real problems also have been left to residents to solve with fundraisers and special assessments so that the same commissioners every year can brag about the lowest tax rate in the state, Kristina said. Homeowners in Hamburg Township have had to band together and tax themselves through a special assessment to fix a road in terrible disrepair. When the opioid epidemic reached this county, it was the families, teachers, and peers who were proactive amidst their grief and struggled to create a plan of action.

County inaction often costs money in the long run, she said, pointing to the new jail.

“Our county tried to arrest our way out of an addiction epidemic until the jail holding cells were full enough for a photo op.” she said. “Suddenly in a county rated one of the safest in the state, it made sense to invest $17 million dollars in a jail expansion. That decision never went to a vote, despite the financial ramifications. Expenses have gone up for the jail, we have seen a pay freeze on county employees and the local correctional officers have now been tasked with securing rented federal inmates.”

Kristina also spent the last year volunteering with the Michigan Democratic Party’s Project 83, canvassing neighborhoods in the county to listen to voters about what issues are important to them.

Kristina is the only Democrat running to represent District 8, which includes most of Hamburg Township and the western edge of Green Oak Township.

Kristina has lived in Hamburg Township for nearly 20 years. She has an associate’s degree in corrections and has earned the Correctional Officer Certification from the State of Michigan. She is currently attending Eastern Michigan University studying criminal justice and political science. She has two children who are both graduates of Pinckney Community Schools

To find out more about Kristina’s campaign, visit her website www.kristina2018.com or contact her at kristinadrake2018@gmail.com.

As commissioner, Jennifer said she would work to make sure the county budget matches the priorities of the community, and she said she would cooperate with constituents to make that happen.

“Transparency and inclusion are important if the County Commission is to make sound decisions that benefit all constituents,” she said, noting the dire consequences in Flint when community voices were ignored during the water crisis.

Right now, she said, women in the community are underrepresented on the board, with just two on the nine-member board.

One priority for her community, she said, is better roads and safer walking and bike paths, with crosswalks. In some areas of the district, she said, it’s hard to walk or bicycle safely to schools, recreational areas, and stores. Young families are looking for more walkable communities so that children can learn independence and responsibility by traveling safely to where they want to go without having to use a car, she said.

Jennifer said other aspects of the district’s health and safety need to be addressed with compassion, specifically the area’s opioid abuse problem. She believes the county should join a lawsuit against several large drug manufacturers to recover the cost of dealing with opioid addiction.

“While I believe in legal consequences for breaking the law, for those who abuse drugs, have mental issues and domestic problems there is a better way. First and foremost is the health and safety of the community. The best way to accomplish this is to support the existing treatment courts in Livingston County,” she said, noting such courts solve underlying problems of those with addictions and result in fewer repeat offenders.

“As County Commissioner I will support treatment programs, advocate for grant funding from the State and provide additional support, new ideas and resources to expand on their success,” she said.

Jennifer lives in Hartland Township with her husband Frank and their three children. She teaches in Ann Arbor public schools and is a member of the Ann Arbor Education Association and the Michigan Education Association. Besides her 11 years as a teacher, Jennifer also was in sports medicine for five years.

As a union member herself who grew up in a union household, she said she will fight to make sure the county pays fair wages to its employees. “I firmly believe that high-quality jobs and the right to collective bargaining are the foundations of America’s middle class,” she said.
People wishing more information on Garcia’s campaign may follow her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGarciaforLCC/.
(Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Labor donated. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.)

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NEXT MEETING

Promote the Vote ...

A proposed amendment to the Michigan Constitution that would making vote more accessible and fair will be the subject of the next meeting of the Livingston County Democratic Party.

Jessica Ayoub, public engagement specialist with Promote the Vote, will discuss the proposal and the drive to collect a minimum of 315,654 signatures to get the amendment on the November ballot.

The proposed amendment will protect the right to vote a secret ballot, provide the option to vote straight party, provide for automatic voter registration, allow no-reason absentee voting, and require election audits.

Petitions will be available for signing.

Also speaking will be two candidates for Democratic nominations for the Michigan State University board of trustees – Matt Clayson and Andy Spencer.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. on April 26 at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. Attendees are advised to park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevator down to the auditorium.

The party’s regular business meeting will follow. Light refreshments will be served.

WINANS DINNER

Whitmer Is Specia...

It’s our 35th annual Winans Dinner – with special guest Gretchen Whitmer, former Senate Democratic leader and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Whitmer will speak at the event on Friday, May 18, at Lakelands Golf and Country Club, 8760 Chilson Road, in Hamburg Township.

Also speaking will be the two candidates for the Democratic nomination for 8th District Congress – Christopher Smith of East Lansing and Elissa Slotkin of Holly.

The theme of the evening is, “Build the Blue Wave,” highlighting the local party’s commitment to talk to thousands of voters this campaign season to make sure the streak of Democratic victories throughout the rest of the nation includes Livingston County as well.

The evening includes a social hour at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The event includes snacks, music, a sit-down dinner, dessert, silent auction, a raffle – and great conversation with like-minded friends.

Tickets are $70 per person through April 27 and $80 per person after that. Student tickets are $25, but a limited number of free tickets for high school students are available through the generosity of the Michigan Education Association Unit 8-D, Howell.

To reserve a seat, mail a check made out to Livingston County Democratic Party to party headquarters at 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Please include the names of the attendees so that nametags can be prepared. Tickets also may be ordered on-line at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2018winans

To have your name included in the program as a patron for the evening, please add $15 per name.

Whitmer is one of four people seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

During her time in the Legislature, Gretchen negotiated with Republicans to expand Medicaid to provide health care to 630,000 working Michigan residents under the Healthy Michigan program.

In 2012, she fought against Republicans’ passage of right-to-work legislation without even holding a public hear. When they locked the doors of the Capitol to keep the people out during the debate, Gretchen threw open the doors and led the protest from her office so people could have their voices heard. She also passed a minimum wage increase for working families that includes a cost-of-living adjustment and fought for more.

Gretchen also was not afraid to stand up to leaders of her own party when they stole money from the state education fund and failed to lift up poor-performing schools.

In 2016, Gretchen stepped up again and served as Ingham County Prosecutor, restoring faith in the office after the elected prosecutor was forced to resign amidst a scandal. She cleaned up a mess and implemented stronger ethics standards.

A lifelong Michigan resident, she attended public schools and state universities. She lives in East Lansing with her husband, Marc, two daughters and three step sons.

The annual dinner is a crucial way the local party raises funds to support party operations through the fall campaign. The event is named in honor of Edwin B. Winans, a Democrat from Hamburg Township who served in Congress and later as Michigan governor from 1891 to 1893.

(Paid for by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, Brighton, MI 48114. Labor donated. All funds solicited in connection with this event are by Livingston County Democratic Executive Committee, not by any candidate. )

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CANDIDATE FOR COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3

Hartland Veteran ...

Pledging to bring more open communication between voters and the Livingston County Commission, a Hartland Navy veteran has declared his candidacy for a seat on the board.

Steven J. Savela is running in District 3, which covers all of Tyrone Township and all but the southwest corner of Hartland Township. A service advisor at Convenience Auto in Ann Arbor, Steve is married and lives in the village of Hartland.

“We love our community. There are so many good things going on with gracious and welcoming people. I’m proud to say I live here. But there are many issues that remain unaddressed by our current county commission. I want to take those issues on because we deserve better from our leadership,” he said.

Steve says one of his top priorities will be fixing the county’s infrastructure. Michigan’s rural roads are rated the 18th worst in the nation and its bridges are rated the 15th worst, according to the Detroit News. And in Livingston County, a 2016-2017 report from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments says 50.5 percent of the county’s major roads are in “poor” condition.

Steve says he also will attend board meetings faithfully, noting that the incumbent has a poor attendance record that means the district is unrepresented on important votes.

Steve promised to hold town hall meetings in four locations throughout the district twice a year to which all residents would be invited. He also promised to set up an open forum on social media, giving those who can’t make the meetings a voice, too. And he said he would publish a mailing address so that constituents could reach out to him directly with their concerns that he could follow up on.

Steve has lived in Livingston County for 15 years, has one grown daughter and two grandchildren. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1982 and 1986, rising to the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Independence and USS Forrestal. He saw action in Grenada, Beirut, the Persian Gulf and twice in Libya.

After his time in the service in attended Jones College in Jacksonville, Fla., majoring in business management with a minor in broadcasting, and later attended Jackson Community College for a tool and die apprenticeship.

For more information on Steve’s campaign, email him at steve.savela@yahoo.com or visit his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StevenJSavela/.

CANDIDATE FOR COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5

Alex Hansen Annou...

A young Howell Township resident has jumped into the race for the Democratic nomination for 5th District Livingston County Commissioner.

Alex Hansen filed papers with the county clerk on March 7, 2018 in preparation for the November 2018 election.

“It's time to bring moral and compassionate progressive policies to Livingston County that are in line with the needs of the 21st century,” Alex stated. “As our county’s deteriorating infrastructure continues to disadvantage our residents, our board of commissioners continue to point fingers at other branches of government and shift blame. We deserve results.”

As a banker with over 10 years of experience, Hansen understands the importance of a balanced budget and fiscal responsibility. He recognizes that success can only be achieved when all stakeholders are heard and their concerns are addressed.

Alex promised to work tirelessly to improve county roads, increase public transportation, and look for ways to expand affordable housing.

Alex manages a branch location for Community Financial Credit Union. He serves on the Howell Township Zoning Board of Appeals and is president of the Amber Oaks Homeowners Association.

He grew up in Mattawan near Kalamazoo and graduated from public schools there. While in high school, he earned an Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts of America and was active in 4-H, where his project was showing chickens.

Alex received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Michigan University in 2007 and will receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Davenport University in April.

His wife, Marie Arao-Hansen, attended Brighton High School as an exchange student and now is a teacher in South Lyon Community Schools. They have been married for four and a half years and are expecting their first child in May.

Anyone wishing more information about Hansen’s campaign may reach out to him at contact@HANSEN2018.com or by visiting his campaign website at http://www.hansen2018.com.

Hansen is the only Democrat to announce for the 5th District, which includes the city of Howell and the townships of Howell and Cohoctah.

CANDIDATE FOR COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 6

Kasey Helton to b...

Former Pinckney journalist, community activist, and roller derby skater Kasey Helton is gearing up for a chance to win a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.

Helton, 40, has filed papers with the Livingston County Clerk’s office for the Democratic nomination for a seat on the Livingston County Commission representing District, covering all of Marion Township, the Village of Pinckney, Putnam Township Precincts 2, 3, and 4, and Hamburg Township Precinct 3.

“Livingston County is a growing, vibrant community of individuals and families from a blend of socio-economic backgrounds, and we don’t have a county board that reflects that,” says Helton, citing that women make up only 22 percent of the board in a county that is 49.9 percent women, according to 2016 US Census data.

“The commissioners are either comfortably retired or don’t commute to work in a county in which most adult residents drive to jobs in other counties. All you have to do is look at the poor state of the county roads the rest of us drive to work on every day to see that the commission’s funding priorities reflect a clear disconnect with the needs of the community at large; I want to change that.”

Helton, a Democrat, was a reporter for the Livingston Daily Press & Argus in the early 2000s, covering the Village of Pinckney, Pinckney Community Schools, as well as Hamburg and Putnam Townships and local police. Today, she owns a home in Marion Township with her husband, Jim, a member of United Steelworkers Local 1900. Helton works for Michigan Medicine as an inpatient unit clerk for the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at CS Mott Hospital in Ann Arbor.

“As a reporter, I discovered in talking to people day after day along the M-36 corridor that their experiences seemed a lot like mine, and basically we all want the same things -- great schools, safe roads, a safe environment, safe communities overall,” Helton said. “Later, as I became a commuter and my dad, who is a widower, retired in Marion Township and went on Social Security, I experienced these challenges for myself and my family firsthand.”

Those challenges and experience have helped Helton develop a solid platform to run on and win, she said: More investment in affordable senior housing and related resources for Livingston’s burgeoning senior population, restored funding for public services like the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA) to pre-recession levels, more funding for Livingston Community Mental Health, which helps serve the county’s growing opioid-addicted population, a more robust investment in job-creating partnerships with the Economic Development Council of Livingston County and its affiliate, Ann Arbor SPARK -- and of course, fixing roads.

Helton cited the latest 2016-17 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) road assessment published in the Detroit Free Press that found 50.5 percent of Livingston’s major roadways in “poor” condition.

Instead of taking responsibility for county roads, Helton says the board has shifted the tax burden onto the townships in the form of special road millages so that the all-Republican board of commissioners can continue to claim the lowest county tax rate in the state.

“Places like Howell and Hamburg Townships are compelled to do the heavy lifting with increased taxes, or watch the roads crumble, ” Helton said.

“These are county-owned roads,” she emphasized. “It’s a setup that goes back for years now, and the result is that most of our county roads are rated poorly. It’s a failed strategy -- the data shows that -- and it needs to be reexamined.”

Helton revealed she and several other county commission candidates working on an innovative plan to invest more in Livingston County’s road system as well as to address the other ‘weaknesses’ identified in the county’s own Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2014-2018.

To find out more about Helton’s campaign, visit her website at www.kaseyhelton.com or contact her at kasey4dist6@gmail.com.

CANDIDATE FOR 42ND HOUSE

Journalist and co...

Journalist and community leader Mona Shand announces run for 42nd House seat
Mona Shand, an award-winning journalist and writer who has covered local and statewide politics for years, has announced her candidacy for the 42nd District seat in the Michigan House.
Mona, the only Democrat to announce for the seat, enters the race because of a desire to serve the community in a new capacity and a profound frustration with the status quo in Lansing.
“Our state is on a path that is not sustainable,” she said. “Enough with the in-fighting and partisan nonsense that has become the norm for our Legislature. The only way we’re ever going to fix our roads, uplift our schools, and protect our children and our Pure Michigan way of life is by committing to working together in a bipartisan, creative fashion.”
A former teacher, Mona made a career move to journalism in 2003, working at WLNS-TV 6 in Lansing, Fox 2 Detroit, and WHMI 93.5 FM in Howell. For the past several years, she has been the Michigan producer and correspondent with Public News Service, an independent news agency covering policy and public interest issues across the state.
“As a journalist, I’ve devoted myself to making public policy understandable, and to holding our elected leaders accountable for their decisions,” she said. “Time and time again, I’ve seen good legislation addressing important issues go nowhere because our current politicians won’t look beyond party lines or special interests. Meanwhile, bills declaring our official state nickname to be Michiganders make it through. Our political process has become dysfunctional, and it needs to change.”
Mona grew up in the metro Detroit area and graduated from local public schools. She received a bachelor’s degree in French and International Studies from Northwestern University, and a master’s degree in Foreign Language Education from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
She and her husband, Mark, an automotive engineer, have lived in Genoa Township since 2007, and they have three children, ages 10, 8, and 6.
Her many community involvements include membership on the board of directors of LACASA, the county’s advocacy organization for victims and survivors of interpersonal violence. She is also the marketing coordinator for the Livingston County Community Alliance, which is dedicated to reducing and preventing youth substance abuse.
The 42nd District covers the townships of Brighton, Green Oak, Genoa, Hamburg, and Putnam, plus the city of Brighton and the village of Pinckney.
More information on her campaign is available at www.monashand.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monashandforstaterep, and on Twitter @Mona4StateRep.

COUNTY CONVENTION

Livingston Dems H...

Livingston County Democrats will hold their spring convention on Thursday, March 22, in preparation for the Michigan Democratic Party’s statewide endorsement convention on April 15.

The convention is the time when the county party will elect members to represent it on the rules, resolutions, and credentialing committees for the April 15 convention. The statewide convention will endorse candidates for Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Supreme Court. A total of four committee delegates will be chosen and the positions are listed in the official call below. Anyone interested in one of the positions is encouraged to contact the party by 5 p.m. March 12 at livcodems@gmail.com.

The county convention also will consider resolutions for submission to the state party for consideration at the statewide convention. Anyone wishing to submit a proposed resolution should email it to livcodems@gmail.com by 5 p.m. March 12.

Any Democrat in the county whose membership was current as of Feb. 20 is eligible to vote at the county convention.

The event will be held at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., with the convention beginning at 7 p.m. Attendees are advised to park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevator down to the auditorium.

The party’s regular executive committee meeting will follow the convention.

1. Call to order by County Vice Chair acting as temporary chair
2. Election of Permanent Convention Chair
3. Election of Permanent Convention Chair and Secretary
4. Chair announces appointment of permanent County Convention Committees
A. Credentials
B. Rules
5. Report of Committee on Credentials
6. Report of Committee on Rules
7. Election of Convention Committee Members and Alternates for April 15 State Convention:
a. Credentials Committee – one male alternate delegate
The credentials committee will meet at the call of the Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party at the April 15 convention if necessary.
b. Resolutions Committee – one male delegate
The resolutions committee will meet March 28 and March 29 at 7 p.m. at MDP headquarters, 606 Townsend St, Lansing MI 48911. Call-in option available.
c. Rules Committee – one female delegate, one male alternate delegate.
The rules committee will meet at 7 p.m., March 27, at MDP Headquarters, Hart-Kennedy House, 606 Townsend St, Lansing MI 48911. Call-in option available.
8. Consideration of Resolutions
9. Good and Welfare
10. Adjournment

The Livingston County Democratic Party Executive Committee will meet immediately following the convention.

Note on Eligibility:

In order to vote at the county convention, you must have been a member of the Michigan Democratic Party for at least 30 days prior to the convention (as of Feb. 20). Precinct delegates, Democratic elected officials, and Democratic nominees to partisan offices are exempt from the thirty (30) day advance membership requirement and may join the day of the convention.

MEET 2018 CANDIDATES

Colleen Turk Anno...

Colleen Turk, the founder of a group to unite Livingston County residents, has announced that she is running for the Democratic nomination for the 47th House seat in Livingston County.

Colleen Turk filed papers with the county clerk recently in preparation for the November 2018 election.

“We’re facing complex issues that can’t be solved with the same old one-sided ideas,” Turk stated. “And people are tired of feeling hatred from all sides of the spectrum. Michigan needs candidates whose problem solving can be equally innovative and inclusive.”

The most critical issues facing the Livingston county area, Turk said, are how money is allotted for public schools and affordable, high-quality health care.

“Legislators in Lansing just passed legislation to give millage money to for-profit charter schools and denied common-sense checks and balances that were introduced, like compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. So now we’re sharing public money with for-profit corporations that have no responsibility to answer the public’s questions at a time when Michigan student achievement is nationally ranked in the bottom third of the country,” she said.

“When it comes to health care, we can’t make citizens wait for the mess at the federal level to be corrected. We need to be actively researching initiatives that can be undertaken by our state in small-scale pilot programs with an eye for expanding beyond that. Senior citizens and young families need realistic solutions right now.”

Turk grew up in Cohoctah and attended Howell public schools throughout her childhood. She is a 1999 graduate of Howell High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and German from the University of Michigan in 2003. Last year she earned a Master of Nonprofit Administration from Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Her studies included program design and evaluation, employment and tax law, accounting, and finance.

Turk is an IT professional with experience in project management, academia, and health care (where are you employed?). She is the founder of Citizens for Unity, a community group focused on facilitating discussions, learning different perspectives, and building consensus on actions needed to change our community for the better. Turk also was instrumental in launching the youngest chapter of First Robotics in Howell Schools – the First LEGO League Jr.

Her husband, James Turk, also attended Howell public schools and now leads building maintenance at Pepsi Bottling Group in Howell. They have been married 11 years, have two children, and moved back to Livingston county in 2016 after residing in Buchanan, Michigan for seven years. They now live in Marion Township.

Anyone wishing more information about Turk’s campaign may contact her at VoteTurk@gmail.com, follow her campaign on Facebook at Vote for Colleen Turk (https://www.facebook.com/VoteforColleenTurk/), or view her website at colleenturk.com
Turk is the first Democrat to file for the 47th House District, which includes the townships of Cohoctah, Conway, Deerfield, Handy, Hartland, Howell, Iosco, Marion, Oceola, Tyrone and Unadilla, plus the city of Howell and the village of Fowlerville.

MEET 2018 CANDIDATES

Two Statewide Can...

A pair of candidates for statewide office will be guest speakers at the next meeting of Livingston County Democrats.

Jocelyn Benson, candidate for Democratic nomination for secretary of state, and Jordan Acker, candidate for the Democratic nomination for the University of Michigan board of regents, will speak at the party’s Jan. 25 meeting.

Jocelyn Benson has been a national leader in election law and administration for more than a decade. She wrote the first major book on the role of the secretary of state in enforcing election and campaign finance laws, called, Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process.

She served as dean of Wayne State University’s law school, where she froze tuition, expanded access to scholarship funds and set up programs to provide free legal services for veterans.

She is currently CEO and Executive Director of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), a national nonprofit.

Jordan is a University of Michigan graduate and an attorney. He has worked as a staffer for the House Judiciary Committee where he worked on issues such as civil rights and the illegal torture practices of the Bush administration. He worked on a team that helped expose and end those practices.

He also worked in the Obama White House on issues including modernizing immigration policy and supporting law enforcement after the Boston marathon bombing. And he was an advisor to the secretary of Homeland Security.

He returned to Oakland County in 2013 where he practices law with his father.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. Park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevator down to the auditorium. The business locks the door promptly at 7 p.m.

CANDIDATES FOR HIGH OFFICE

Gubernatorial, At...

A pair of candidates for top statewide office will speak to Livingston County Democrats later this month.

Ann Arbor entrepreneur Shri Thanedar, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, and Dana Nessel, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, both will speak at the party’s Nov. 30 meeting.

Thanedar is a political newcomer who emigrated from India in 1979 and went on to found several companies in an up-and-down business career that survived the Great Recession. Thanedar, who has a doctorate in chemistry, bought a small lab in Missouri that he expanded to 450 employees before the Great Recession sent it into receivership. He moved to Michigan in 2010 and started a chemical-testing company called Avomeen Analytical Services. In 2017, he sold his majority stake in the company and rewarded roughly 50 employees with $1.5 million in bonuses.

While establishing his businesses, he lost his first wife in 1996 and raised his two sons as a single parent. He also is a best-selling author, having written his memoirs, The Blue Suitcase, both in Marathi and in English. He has been a U.S. citizen since 1988.

His honors include having his company named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. and being named Entrepreneur of the Year.

Nessel is an attorney who spearheaded the precedent-setting case, DeBoer v. Snyder, which challenged the bans on adoption and marriage for same-sex couples in Michigan. The DeBoer case was later consolidated with other cases and resulted in a landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

A former assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Nessel handled child sexual and physical abuse cases, shootings of civilians by police officers, and auto theft.

In 2005, she began her own law practice in criminal defense, civil rights actions against police departments and government agencies, and protecting victims of domestic violence. She also has taken on cases for the LGBTQ community including ones dealing with child custody, adoption, and wrongful prosecutions and employment terminations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

A graduate of Wayne State University Law School, Nessel has received numerous awards for her civil rights initiatives, including the “Champion of Justice” award from the Michigan State Bar Association, “Woman of the Year” from Michigan Lawyers Weekly and the “Treasure of Detroit” award from Wayne State University Law School.
The Nov. 30 meeting will be at 7 p.m. at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. Attendees should park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevator down to the auditorium. The business locks the door promptly at 7 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 810-229-4212 or email livcodems@gmail.com.

RUNNING FOR OFFICE 101

Think about runn...

The 2018 election is still more than a year off, but it's not too early to start thinking about running for office.

So much is on the line in the next election -- the future of our planet, public education, union rights, health care, and more. No one can afford to sit this one out.

That's why if you've ever even dreamed about running for office, this is the time to jump in.

Take the first step by attending "Running for Office 101," featuring state Rep. Kristy Pagan, D-Canton, talking about the ins-and-outs of getting started. Mike McCollum, a member of the House Democratic Caucus staff, also will speak and provide the House Dems' perspective.

This session will help you decide whether to run, determine which office is best for you, and explain the process of getting on the ballot.

The event, which is free, t will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, at party headquarters, 8028 Grand River, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, west of Brighton.

CANDIDATES FOR HIGH OFFICE

Candidates for Go...

A pair of candidates for high office in Michigan will speak at the next meeting of Livingston County Democrats.

Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, and Elissa Slotkin, candidate for the Democratic nomination for 8th District Congress, will speak at the meeting on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m.

El Sayed, of Detroit is a epidemiologist who is the former health commissioner for the City of Detroit.

He was born in Michigan and grew up in Detroit. He has a medical degree from Columbia University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he earned his doctorate in public health. He was an assistant professor in Columbia University’s Department of Epidemiology when Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan appointed him health commissioner.

Slotkin, of Holly, is a former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense. She went to work in the Central Intelligence Agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and served three tours in Iraq. She worked for both Republican and Democratic presidents at the White House National Security Council. She now runs a small consulting business.

She is married and has two step-daughters.

The primary for both the Democratic nomination for governor and for 8th District Congress will be Aug. 7, 2018.

The meeting will be at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell. Park in the back, use the rear entrance, and take the stairs or elevator down to the auditorium. The business locks its doors at 7 p.m.

CANDIDATE FOR DEM GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION

Candidate for Dem...

A candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Livingston County Democratic Party.

Bill Cobbs, a retired executive with Xerox Corporation, will speak at the event at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at RE/Max Platinum Auditorium, 6870 Grand River, between Brighton and Howell.

Cobbs, who lives in Oakland County, is running on a platform of rebuilding Michigan’s infrastructure and schools. He is pledging to listen to Michigan citizens and to restore trust in government.

Cobbs graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1970. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan and served in the U.S. Navy from 1972-73. He later worked as a police officer while earning a law degree at Wayne State University Law School.

After being hired by Xerox, he built the Xerox Professional Services Division and became a global vice president for the corporation.

After retiring, he has coached executives in Fortune 500 on how to listen to customers and their employees.

He has been married for 36 years and he and his wife, Lisa, have two children and one granddaughter.

His website is: http://www.billcobbs2018.com/.

Cobbs is one of several people seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. The party’s primary will be Aug. 7, 2018.

All Democrats in the county are welcome to attend the meeting. For more information, call 810-229-4212 or email livcodems@gmail.com.